On Wednesday May 25th, David Lammy MP met with
Supporting Our Future - the supporters group formed to represent the interests of fans in the future of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (
link to website) - to discuss Northumberland Development Project.
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What is your understanding of the current state of play?It is very disappointing that the club have decided to delay the process of getting a new stadium by launching these legal actions. It is also very disappointing that the Mayor has decided to stop talking to the club because of this. The club’s fans and Tottenham residents are just stuck in the middle.
The uncertainty isn’t good for the fans, as they don’t know whether the directors are committed to staying in Tottenham – the place that has been home to the club since its birth. And it isn’t good for the people of Tottenham, who need to know what is happening to the redevelopment of Northumberland Park.
I would prefer the club to put its time and money into working with Spurs fans, Tottenham residents, the Mayor, government, council and I to deliver a new stadium in Tottenham. And I want the Mayor to talk to the club about this development, which affects all fans and residents.
What do you understand to be the major stumbling block to Spurs going ahead with the NDP?The club have said that the development is too expensive, but I am not sure how the costs have increased since they were granted planning permission for the NDP last year. The club have said that they need public assistance for the development to go ahead, and I have been discussing the possibility of this with the Mayor’s office. Because of this, we have been given a Mayoral Development Corporation, but we need an enterprise zone for Tottenham. That is the real prize, which would make a real difference to the area. Unfortunately, that is going to be difficult with the Mayor and the club not talking to each other.
Haringey Council have given their permission for the development to go ahead, and I am very supportive. We want Spurs to have a new stadium which will allow them to compete at the highest levels of the European game, attracting the best players in the world. This can’t happen while the stadium is delayed, so I want the club to move ahead with their plans as quickly as possible. The quickest way to get a new stadium is to proceed with the NDP, so I support that plan, which is the best option for Spurs fans and Tottenham residents.
What pressure can be put on English Heritage, a quango, by the politicians (national or local) to step back on some of EH's demands for NDP that seem to weigh heavily in TH's 'unviable' list? Similarly, can the scheme be reviewed again vis-a-vis the reduced level of residential development (i.e., to increase it again) as that was a significant enabling factor?The council and I supported the club’s negotiations with English Heritage during the planning process for the NDP and I am sure we would do the same again. Fans should write to English Heritage to make their views known.
The planning permission could be changed, but this would take time and money. We all want to see Spurs in a new stadium as quickly as possible, so the delay this would cause would have to be considered.
Are there alternative sites in Haringey that could be viable?I want to see Spurs remaining in Tottenham – their home. There are obviously other possible sites in Haringey – someone even mentioned Alexandra Palace to me! However, the plans for the NDP are agreed, Spurs own the land and planning permission has been granted. If Spurs were to choose another plot of land, they would have to buy it (including possible compulsory purchase orders), produce new plans, gain new planning permission, and then build it. That whole process could take a long time – 10 years, maybe 15 years. By which point, the club’s ability to play at the highest level would be massively diminished. To stay at the highest level, Spurs need a new stadium, and fast. The club could look elsewhere, but I don’t think it would be in theirs, or their fans’, interests.
What is your stance on the 'fanshare' scheme that seems to be so much more effective at Arsenal? How do you see it happening given the current ownership model/profile at Tottenham Hotspur plc?Look at the strapline of the Arsenal fanshare scheme – “Shared Influence, Shared Ownership, Shared Values”. I am in favour of anything that involves the fans in the running of the club, and which allows them to play their part. Much as it hurts to say this as a Spurs fan, Arsenal are leading the way with this, and I think it would be great if we could emulate them – in this respect, anyway!
What do you see as the role of organised supporter groups?The bigger the role, the better, as far as I am concerned. I have been in touch with Supporters Direct about involving fans in their clubs, and I would support any move to organize Spurs fans behind a greater role in our club.
If NDP does "die a death", what happens to all the land/property TH now own? The site of ever more blue hoardings around empty and dilapidated buildings along the High Road and Northumberland park is truly depressing even for a depressed area.
I agree. This is the problem if the NDP doesn’t happen – the club have already bought up a great deal of the land around White Hart Lane. I want to see the NDP happen – that is my main aim. However, any alternative plan that the club puts forward will have to be very clear on how they propose helping the area around the High Road and Northumberland Park. The club has been in that area since the 1880s and they cannot just walk away from their responsibilities.
Would you see moving the schools behind the East Stand (in one case arguably just their sports pitches) to the north of the current stadium (on the land TH owns) to allow redevelopment of the current ground on that side as a viable option?I am not aware of any serious plans for the schools around White Hart Lane. Any plan would have to have the consent of everybody affected by it. If we can agree a plan which allows the NDP to go ahead with the consent of the schools and local residents, then I will support it.
